Kansas junior forward Thomas Robinson declared for the NBA Draft at a press conference in Allen Fieldhouse Monday morning.
After playing three seasons at Kansas, Robinson will give up his final year of collegiate eligibility and finish his career as the 55th Jayhawk to score 1,000 points in a career. Robinson’s name will forever decorate the career and single-season record list for points and rebounds. The 6-10 Washington, D.C., native finished his Kansas career with 1,026 points, 763 rebounds, 100 assists, 74 blocks and 32 double-doubles. His 763 career rebounds rank 14th all-time, while his 32 double-doubles rank seventh. After playing behind Cole Aldrich and Marcus and Markieff Morris his first two seasons, Robinson made the most of his junior season. He ranks in the top 12 in four categories on the single-season list: 692 points (eighth), 463 rebounds (second), 27 double-doubles (first) and 261 field goals made (11th). Robinson’s 27 double-doubles led the nation in 2011-12, while his 11.9 rebounds per game ranked second nationally.
His 27 double-doubles this season moved him ahead of Drew Gooden (25 in 2002) for first place on the single-season list. Earlier this season, Robinson posted one of the most impressive games by a Jayhawk in a long time as he joined elite company when he scored 30 points and pulled down 21 rebounds against North Dakota (12/31). He became the first Jayhawk to score at least 30 points and record 20 rebounds since Wayne Hightower scored 36 points and grabbed 21 rebounds against Missouri on Feb. 13, 1961. In KU history there have been at least nine other 30-20 games and two games that could not be confirmed – seven of those games were by Wilt Chamberlain, one by Hightower and one by Clyde Lovellette. Robinson is the sixth player in Big 12 history to accomplish the feat joining former conference player(s) of the year Kevin Durant (Texas), Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) in addition to Oklahoma State’s Mario Boggan.
Robinson was a unanimous Associated Press First Team All-American becoming the first since Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin in 2009. He was the lone unanimous selection in 2011-12. Robinson is Kansas’ first AP First Team All-American since Wayne Simien in 2005.
He was part of three Big 12 regular-season championships, two Big 12 Championship titles, two Elite Eights and one Final Four at Kansas. Robinson lost just one time in Allen Fieldhouse, posting a three-year record of 50-1. His overall three-year Kansas record of 100-13 are the most wins in a three-year period in Kansas’ rich men’s basketball history.
During his sophomore season Robinson was the Jayhawks’ sixth-man. He averaged 14.6 minutes in 33 games with two starts and was the Jayhawks’ most productive player off the bench, averaging 7.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He notched four double-doubles on the season and his 60.1 shooting percentage ranked second highest on the team. Robinson missed the Jayhawks’ win at Colorado (1/25) to attend the funeral of his mother, Lisa. In the four games following his mother’s death, he averaged 12.8 points on 17-of-25 shooting and 7.8 rebounds per game. He was selected as one of 10 finalists for the V Foundation Comeback Award.
In his freshman campaign he played in 33 games with one start, while averaging 7.2 minutes, 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He appeared in 14 conference contests and four of five postseason games, while earning his first career start at Nebraska (1/13). Robinson’s first career double-double came with a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and 10 rebounds against Alcorn State (12/2).
Robinson will leave Lawrence after guiding the 2011-12 team to an appearance in the National Championship game and an overall record of 32-7.
— KU Sports Information —